This week I learned that you can really go crazy with widgets. There are many more widgets I wanted to add to my blog. I didn't think my blog should be more widget that posts or comments. I also learned that getting a template from some other source isn't always easy to work with. Thanks to Will for explaining the edit button and how to edit it. Will you need to let me know how you figured that out.


I will use what I learned and pass it on to anyone that wants to use it. I think widgets are a good way to make a website interesting. Teacher Web has an enhanced page feature that allows you to paste html code. I saw lots of widgets that a teacher might want to add to their Teacher Web pages. I think the information is fun and useful.


I like templates that fit my personality. I picked the messy desk, because I usually have a messy desk and I like the iphone. I suppose I should probably look for something that has more columns. I do think it is important that the posts and comments can be read easily. I don't think it should look too busy, but the more widgets you add the busier it looks.


I added the following widgets: time and day, Nasa picture of the day, quote of the day, blog links, followers, labels, and blog archive. The time and date, Nasa picture of the day and quote of the day were third party widgets from widgetbox.

Widgets make blogs interesting and fun to visit.

My questions are:
1) Is there anyway to size the widgets so they are not so big?
2) Can you rotate widgets on a blog page, so you can have different ones at different times, without remove and adding them all the time?

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Had a wonderful time in Colorado. The highlight of our trip was a performance by Sir Angel Romero, a classical guitar solist with the Music in the Mountains Orchestra. It was a beautiful performance by all. We did get out and do some rafting and sightseeing on the Durango to Silverton train. My husband Chris and I are on the last row of the raft. I am in the middle wearing a white cap (letting everyone else do the work) and Chris is on the left. There is also a picture of us on the train and a picture of a rainbow that is caused by the train letting off steam. The weather in Colorado was warmer than usual in the daytime, but not nearly as warm as Round Rock. The nights and mornings were cool and we enjoyed those times very much.

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This week I learned how to remove the next blog feature from my blog. I also learned how to set up an email to blogger. I also learned about guest blogging. I think the guest blogging makes the blog more collaborative. I can see using a blog to share ideas within a department, a team or grade level. A school blog could include posts from parents, teachers, administrators.


I will use what I have learned this week on my blog as opportunities arise. I think the information is good to know and expands my knowledge of blogging.


I think that comment moderation is a benefit in a school setting, when lots of children will be reading the blog. I can see the benefit of not having a blog moderated. When you read news blogs, the comments are not moderated and you get some passionate discussions. I don't think it is polite to use foul language no matter what your opinion is and so I would not want to have that on a blog comment.

I used the Mail-to-Blogger feature to send a post about my trip to Colorado. Anyone interested in being a guest blogger to my blog? I would use this feature to let others share what they are doing with technology and what new uses they have found.

I don't think there is anything I want to forget about this week's information.

I think the music on the Advanced blogging site is neat, but how do you turn it off to listen to the videos?

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I am a former 6th grade science teacher beginning a new position as an Instructional Technology Specialist at Stony Point High School. I am looking forward to working with teachers and using technology in new and different ways. My goal is to equip our students to graduate with skills that will make them life long learners; ready to use technology to help them learn and succeed in the 21st century. This blog is my learning blog. Right now I am enrolled in an advanced blogging course. I hope to become more comfortable using blogs as a communication tool.

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